The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-23

ASECOND TERN NOT WANTED
A Washington Writer Furnishes What
He Calls Startling Information,
dent Does Not Wish and Will Not Accept
Renomination-His Alleged Reasons.

ct. LOUIS April "A special from Wash-
ington to the ST. Louis Republican gives the
following rather startling information:
President Cleveland neither wishes nor will
accept denomination. Tais will be startling
Information to the country, setting at rest the
important question Of second term, now the
subject of interested consideration in political
circles everywhere The correspondent of the
Republican has the highest possible authority
for the statement, however, and it can
be depended upon as strictly and en-
tirey true 1t comes from the Presi-
dent himself, who made a declaration
to this effect on Wednesday to prominent
Democratic Senator from one of the Western
States, who is on terms of especial intimacy at
the White House. The President spoke with SO
much deliberate earnestness and such studied
emphasis that the Senator with whom he was
talking is certain there is no reason to question
his perfect and entire sincerity His manner,
less than his words, indicated that the
declaration was simply the decision of firm
resolution which had resulted from care
full consideration of all phases of
the matter The President said he
had not given any intimation OF his feelings to
the representatives Of the press. for the simple
reason that he felt nothing he might say about
not wishing or being willing to take second
term wonld be believed. Il hardly expect any
body to believe it, he said. except my wife, bat
it is So mono the less Continuing he added:
Everything do, every appointment / make
they think it is to secure reelection On the
contrary, am counting the days that remain
until my release from Office, just as if I were a
prisoner in confinement
Apparently to make 1t plain that he had
taken half-hearted resolution, the President
proceeded to speak of the exacting and labor
ious duties which fall to the incumbent of the
presidential Office, when the functions of the
presidency are administered with the scrupu-
lous and minute fathfulness he has brought
to the position. No man, he said could
endure the severe strain of such labor,
| at once physical and mental, for
longer period than four years. without
risk of permanent injury to his health. For
these reasons he could not think of a continu.
ance of his term beyond the four years he has
now half completed. Nothing. he said to his SEN
atorial visitor, would persuade him to alter this
| resolution which he had deliberately formed.
| He did not want a second term, and he did not
| believe thero any obligations O. public
| duty which could require him to forego his per-
| sonal wishes.
1.-The Senator, who has repeated this signif-
can't conversation to his friends, says that while
| the, President not talking for the purpose Of
| getting his views about re election before the
1 public. there was intimation that he desired
| his words to be regarded as conf
dential. The Senator has spoken freely
of the interview to personal friends, without
any injunction of secrecy. and it is not
unlikely this private discussion of the matter
| will eventually provoke some formal and public
| utterance by the President. The Senator is
| quite sure there was none of the coy strategy of
! the artful politician, who thinks by this device
| to appear as being sought by rather than seek
| ing the Office, in this disavowal of second term
ambition by President Cleveland. He is con-
| vinced that every word is meant for just what it
implies, and that it will be wholly useless to
\ plan the next campaign on the basis of
denomination Of Cleveland. The President
was specific and decided in saying he could not
be induced by any possible considerations to
change his mind; that there was nothing in the
way of argument which could be brought to
bear to alter a resolution determined alike by
every consideration of personal comfort and
happiness ana by the most conscientious regard
for what could fairly be asked of him as a
patriotic servant of the people"